Apparatus for collecting semen

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for collecting semen to be used in animal breeding by means of a collecting apparatus connected to an artificial vagina. In the collecting apparatus, a collector funnel is fitted between the artificial vagina and a receiver, where the funnel has an upper semen-receiving opening and a lower discharge opening. A holder outside the discharge opening of the funnel of the collecting apparatus positions at least one semen receiver below the discharge opening. To the holder of the collecting apparatus are fitted weighing elements for weighing the contents of the receiver outside the discharge opening of the collector funnel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is an apparatus for collecting semen to beused in animal breeding, by means of a collecting apparatus connected toan artificial vagina.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Artificial insemination is used widely in modern animal breeding.Artificial insemination of horses and zoo animals has also increasedconsiderably. Traditionally, for example in collecting semen to be usedin horse breeding, two different methods have been used, the so-calledopen and closed methods.

When using the open method, one person is required to hold the stallionand another to hold the mare, and if there is no dummy horse available,yet another person is required to hold the artificial vagina and afurther person, that is, a so-called semen collector, to hold thecollector funnel. The collector carrying out the work must beexperienced, because the stallion pushes strongly with its hind legswhen serving, and hits and strikes the mare with its front hooves. Alsothe mare moves, which makes collecting the semen considerably moredifficult. Collecting the semen must, therefore, be considered dangerousand difficult, and the safety of the assisting personnel cannot alwaysbe guaranteed. Furthermore, using a mare in heat, and its unpredictablebehaviour when semen is collected, constitute a considerable risk to thestallion. The mare may kick the stallion breaking its leg, or otherwiseinjure the stallion.

In the closed method, the whole ejaculation is collected by means of areceiver or bag attached to the end of the artificial vagina, whereas inthe open method the aim is to collect those fractions of the ejaculationwith the highest sperm density into a funnel and into the receiver, bag,or the like attached to it.

The stallion ejaculates in pulses. The first parts, or fractions, of thesemen contain sperm and the rest only seminal plasm which comes from thedifferent sexual glands. The stallion's penis, and particular its end,the glans, move during serving and ejaculation which makes successfulcollection of the semen difficult. The risk, therefore, exists that apart of the semen will not be caught in the funnel and a part splashesout of the funnel because the first valuable parts of the semen come outfrom the seminal duct under high pressure. It is fairly common that allthe valuable parts of the ejaculation are not collected, and because ofthis, using the closed method is more common than using the open method.

Problems normally arise when the stallion pushes its penis several timesthrough the artificial vagina before ejaculating. During this,impurities from the stallion's penis adhere to the lubricant in theinterior of the vagina. Thus, in the closed system, the semen is partlycontaminated by impurities as it flows from the vagina into thereceiver. In the open method, on the other hand, it is possible tocollect microbiologically and bacteriologically pure semen because thereis no contamination between the semen and the vagina. The end of thepenis and the seminal duct are outside the vagina as ejaculation takesplace, and the semen is collected by catching the fractions in thefunnel.

Another disadvantage of the closed method is that the unnecessary partsof the seminal plasm, which also reduce the preservation of the semenand its tolerance during deep-freezing, mix with the important parts ofthe ejaculation. At the initial stage of taking the semen, the parts ofthe seminal plasm cannot, therefore, be accurately separated. Theseminal plasm can, however, be separated after collection by strainingor centrifuging the semen. Due to the contamination in the vagina, thedegree of purity of semen collected and treated in this way is notequivalent to that of semen collected by the open method. Straining andcentrifuging also delay the further treatment of the semen, which issensitive to air and light, which treatment should take place as soon aspossible after collection.

If the busiest breeding season is underway and the stallion concerned isa valuable one from the point of view of breeding--for the semen ofwhich there is a high demand--the open method involves several riskfactors. Success is often dependent on the experience of the semencollector and on luck, and therefore in western countries a closedartificial vagina is generally used where valuable stallions areconcerned.

The disadvantage of the above known methods is that from the collectedsemen the vital sperms needed in artificial insemination cannotimmediately, at the initial stage, be accurately separated, but theseare either lost or they mix with large amounts of semen useless forinsemination. In addition, the safety of the assisting personnel and ofthe stallion cannot be guaranteed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the foregoing problemsand to achieve a new method and collecting apparatus which do not havethe disadvantages described above.

It is characteristic of the method relating to the invention that semenis collected so that the semen released in the ejaculation is collectedand sorted in stages into different containers.

It is characteristic of the apparatus relating to the invention that acollector funnel is fitted between the artificial vagina and thereceiver, the said funnel comprising an upper semen-receiving openingand a lower discharge opening, directed mainly downwards, and under thedischarge opening a holder for several receivers. The apparatus alsocomprises elements fitted to the holder for weighing the contents of thereceiver under the discharge opening. For moving the holder of theelement and the collector funnel with respect to each other on the basisof a signal given by the weighing elements, an empty receiver is movedunder the discharge opening once the previous receiver has been filled.

By means of the present apparatus, the semen of the stallion iscollected so that the ejaculated semen is sorted in stages intodifferent containers. Thus, for the artificial insemination of mares theinitial fraction of the ejaculation is used, which can be preservedlonger in diluted form. Preliminary research results also show that withthe initial fractions the pregnancy results are better than with thefinal fractions.

The collector funnel is attached to the frame of the apparatus, whereasthe holder is a plate rotating around the shaft. The receivers can befitted at a circumferential distance from each other, at a distance fromthe shaft determined by the collector funnel discharge opening, the saidshaft being arranged so as to be operated by the drive unit acting asthe transfer element.

The weighing elements consist of a measuring device reacting to theweight fitted in the holder under the receiver, the said device beingelectrically coupled to a transfer device, or the weighing elements areadjustable scales fitted to the holder and supporting the receiver,there being a sensor between that end of the scales which is on the sideof the receiver, and the holder, the said sensor being electricallycoupled to the transfer device.

By means of the invention, semen can be sorted more accurately than hasbeen known previously. The quality and preserving properties of thesemen also improve thanks to quick collection. However, fewer assistingpersonnel are required for collecting the semen and at the same time thesafety of the assisting personnel and the serving stallion is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described with examples in the following, withreference to the appended drawings in which

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the collecting apparatus relating to theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows the holder plate for the receivers of the semen collectingapparatus of FIG. 1, as seen from above.

FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the collecting apparatus according toFIG. 1 inside the dummy horse, as a side view and in partial crosssection.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the receiver weighing system of FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for collecting horse semen. With thecollecting apparatus 9 relating to the invention, semen is collected sothat all the semen released in the ejaculation is collected in stagesthrough the collector funnel 27, into separate receivers 32. Between theartificial vagina 12 (FIG. 3) and the receiver 32 is fitted a collectorfunnel 27, having an upper semen-receiving opening 51 and a lowerdischarge opening 52, directed mainly downwards. The shape of thereceiving opening 51, 51' of the funnel 27 used in the collectingapparatus 9 may vary depending on the location and shape of the rearwall 43, 43' of the funnel used. The rear wall 43, 43' of the funnel 27stops the movement of the semen and effects an even flow towards thedischarge opening 52 of the funnel 27. Collection takes placeautomatically by means of an electrical drive unit 19 which is fastenedby means of a fastening rack 34 and the extension of the dummy horse'ssupporting leg 21 to the frame. The weighing element 66, situated underthe receiver 32 and reacting to weight, gives an impulse to the driveunit through an electrical control system, when the required amount ofsemen has collected in the receiver.

The drive unit 19 moves the holder plate 37 of the receiver. The holderplate 37 fastened to the shaft 38 turns just enough for the receiver 32to move aside from under the funnel 27, and for the following cup-likereceiver 32 to move under the funnel. The total duration of theejaculation is only a few seconds, which means that the average timeused for changing the receiver 32 is only some 0.5 s. The interior ofthe artificial vagina is protected with a disposable protective film 26,which is fastened by its other end to the funnel 27. By using theprotective film 26, good external hygiene is also achieved. The funnel27 is fastened to the funnel fastening rack 67, from which it can easilybe removed for cleaning and sterilization.

FIG. 2 shows the holder plate 37 for the receivers of the semencollecting apparatus 9 of FIG. 1, as seen from above. All the semenreleased in the ejaculation is collected in stages into separatereceivers 32 and 39. The holder plate 37 is moved automatically by meansof the electrical drive unit 19, which is fastened to the frame by meansof the fastening rack 34 and the extension of the supporting leg 21. Theholder plate 37 is fastened by means of a shaft 38 to the drive unit 19.There are three receivers 32 in the holder plate 37, and a fourthreceiver 39 acts as a precipitate cup, in order that proper separationis achieved. Precisely the desired amount, preferably 7 g, of semen iscollected into the receivers 32, and the rest, that is, the semenunsuitable for artificial insemination, or the almost spermless parts ofthe seminal plasm are collected in the receiver 39. If necessary, thereceiver 39 can be left without a measuring element reacting to theweight of the semen. The holder plate 37 turns just enough for thereceiver 32 to move aside from under the funnel 27, and for thefollowing cup 32 to move under the funnel.

FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the collecting apparatus according toFIG. 1 inside the dummy horse, as a side view and in partial crosssection. Inside the frame 10 of the dummy horse coated with flexiblematerial is installed a collector funnel 27, immediately after theartificial vagina 12, the said funnel being connected to the artificialvagina by means of a protective film 26. The funnel 27, together withits fastening rack and the drive unit 19, is fastened to the frame ofthe dummy horse 10 by means of a fastening rack 34. The collectingapparatus is easily removable through the open belly part of the dummyhorse 10 for cleaning and sterilization.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the receiver 32 weighing system. Themeasurement of the amount of semen functions in this embodiment on theprinciple of scales. The weighing elements are adjustable scales fittedto the holder 37 and supporting the receiver 32, there being a sensor 45between that end 53 of the scales which is on the side of the receiver32, and the holder, the said sensor being electrically coupled to thetransfer device. The weight increase caused by the semen flowing fromthe collector funnel to the receiver 32 gives the sensor 45 an impulsewhich causes a transfer motion in the drive unit moving the receiverholder plate 37 through the shaft 38. Each receiver 32 is provided withits own weighing device. The receiver 32 is fastened to one end of theweighing shaft 46, and to the opposite end of the shaft 46 is fastenedan adjustable weight 47, by means of which is predetermined the amountof semen to be collected in each receiver 32.

It is obvious to one skilled in the art that the different embodimentsof the invention may vary within the scope of the claims presentedbelow.

I claim:
 1. A collecting apparatus for collecting semen to be used inanimal breeding connected to an artificial vagina, said apparatuscomprising:an artificial vagina; a plurality of receivers for semen; acollector funnel connected to said artificial vagina and aligned with afirst of said receivers, said funnel comprising an upper semen-receivingopening and a lower discharge opening; a holder; a weighing elementfitted to said holder for weighing the contents of a said receiverpositioned by said holder below the discharge opening of said collectorfunnel, said weighing element for generating a signal; and wherein asignal generated by said weighing element indicates that an emptyreceiver can be moved into position in said holder below the dischargeopening of said collector funnel once said first receiver has beenfilled with semen.
 2. A collecting apparatus as recited in claim 1further comprising a frame supporting said apparatus; and wherein saidholder comprises a plate and shaft for rotating said plate, said shaftattached to said frame; and wherein said plurality of receivers areconnected to said plate spaced a substantially uniform radial distancefrom said shaft, said uniform radial distance corresponding to thedistance from said shaft to said discharge opening.
 3. Apparatus asrecited in claim 1 wherein said weighing element comprises a measuringdevice fitted in said holder under said receiver; and further comprisinga transfer device electrically coupled to said weighing element toreceive a signal from said weighing element.
 4. Apparatus as recited inclaim 1 wherein said weighing element comprises a plurality ofadjustable scales fitted to said holder and supporting a said receiver;a sensor between said scales and said holder; and a transfer deviceelectrically coupled to said sensor.
 5. A collecting apparatus forcollecting semen from an animal and connected to an artificial vagina,said apparatus comprising:an artificial vagina; a collector funnelhaving an upper opening positioned with respect to said artificialvagina to receive semen from the animal, and a lower discharge openingin communication with the upper opening; a holder; at least one semenreceiver held in said holder and aligned to receive semen from saiddischarge opening of said collector funnel; and fitted weighing elementssupported by said holder for weighing the contents of said at least onesemen receiver when held in position by said holder below said dischargeopening.
 6. A collecting apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said at leastone receiver comprises a plurality of receivers; and wherein saidweighing elements further comprise a sensor for detecting that areceiver is filled with semen and for generating a signal that causessaid holder to move an empty receiver into alignment with said dischargeopening.
 7. A collecting apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein saidreceiver comprises a plurality of receivers; and wherein said holderfurther comprises a rotatable plate having receptacles for saidplurality of receivers; and further comprising means for incrementallyrotating said plate to sequentially move each of said receivers intoalignment with said discharge opening.
 8. Apparatus as recited in claim5 wherein said weighing element comprises a measuring device fitted insaid holder under said receiver; and further comprising a transferdevice electrically coupled to said weighing element to receive a signalfrom said weighing element.